International

Alexander-Arnold unconcerned by Cafu’s Ballon d’Or talk

Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold is not worried about individual awards but thanked Brazilian legend Cafu, who said Arnold could win the Golden Ball if he continues with his good form.

21-year-old Trent Alexander Arnold has played a key role in Liverpool’s dominant season so far, prompting Cafu to suggest the right-wing defender could win the Golden Ball.

After Liverpool won the Champions League title for the sixth time in history last season, Alexander-Arnold has helped Liverpool on the road to other titles with two goals and 12 assists in 35 games this season.

Speaking ahead of match 1/8 of the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid, Arnold thanked Cafu but added that he did not focus on individual awards.

“Of course it’s a huge boast of a sporting legend. I am very grateful for that, of course I have to thank him for those kind words,” Arnold said at a news conference.

“I tend to be the best player I can be. I think this is a team sport, so it has to do with the players I have around. The players I train with, the coach and everyone who supports me has made me as good as I can be.”

“Such awards may or may not come in the future, but they don’t bother me as much as some other players.”

International

Ronaldo like Pogba in 2016?

Just like in the last European, that of 2016, Juve experiences the waiting competition to find out what will be the future of their star.

5 years ago the black and white executives remain anxious throughout the competition before the future of Paul Pogba was determined.

Reached the final with France, where he was defeated by Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Five years later, it is Ronaldo who keeps Juve’s market frozen, with his mind on the pitch and his staff trying to settle him away from Turin.

Different situations, but the summer of 2021 may have some analogies to what was experienced in 2016.

Pogba, after the European of France, decided his future during the holidays together with the agent Mino Raiola, between July and August.

He chose to return to Manchester United with a salary he could not refuse.

It was the most expensive transfer of the European market so far, an operation of 105 million euros, pretty good for Juventus who had received it four years ago with zero parameters.

Even the sale of Ronaldo would be positive for the financial logic of Juventus.

The player still has a one-year contract, with a net salary of 31 million euros, which costs the balance a total of 87 million euros, including fiscal obligations.

The Portuguese has not yet spoken about the future, but seems more inclined to leave Turin than in past summers.

For this reason he has given the mandate to agent Mendez to find an alternative.

PSG and Manchester United, where Pogba seems to be ending the adventure, remain valid hypotheses for the future of the footballer, who for now remains focused on defending the European title with Portugal.

He will decide on the continuation of his career later, as Pogba did in 2016.

International

Official: Hansi Flick is named Germany coach

It is now official.

Hansi Flick will sit on the bench of the German National Team officially after the end of the European Championship “Euro 2020”.

The news was announced by the German Football Federation, which has resolved the small details that were left to sign the agreement with the new German coach.

International

“If Ramos were Argentine, Messi would have won a World Cup”

One of Lionel Messi’s biggest disappointments is the loss in the 2014 World Cup, but Oscar Ruggeri believes that the Barcelona star would have that precious trophy if he had Real Madrid center-back Sergio Ramos as a teammate.

The former Boca Juniors defender, who won 97 games for Argentina, believes the team lacked a player of Ramos’ caliber.

“Argentina and Messi, with Ramos means a World Cup,” Ruggeri told ESPN. “He [Ramos] is a monster.

“If Argentina had Ramos on defense, they would be world champions.

“I would like to have a player like Ramos in my national team. If we had a player like Ramos today, we would be contenders for every World Cup.

“We had good central defenders but not the best of all time. Ramos is the best. It would have been nice if he had been Argentine. He is better than me, number one. He is above all,” said Ruggeri.

Messi will have one last chance in 2022 to win the World Cup, the trophy that the Argentine is missing.